It's official: Patty Judge challenges Chuck Grassley

Former Iowa Lt. Gov. Patty Judge is running for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Republican Chuck Grassley.
Jason Noble/The Register

Patty Judge, a former Iowa lieutenant governor and secretary of agriculture, will face state Sen. Rob Hogg, as well as former Iowa lawmakers Tom Fiegen and Bob Krause, in the June 7 Democratic primary.(Photo: Special to the Register)

The Democratic former Iowa lieutenant governor and secretary of agriculture confirmed her intention to seek the seat long held by Republican U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley in an interview with The Des Moines Register on Friday morning.

Judge, 72, told the Register that her long political experience and rural perspective matched up favorably with Grassley, and predicted she would have the resources to mount a viable campaign.

“I know this state, I know people here, and I’ve worked hard here for a long time for people,” she said. “I decided a few years ago maybe that it was time to take a little easier path, but this one’s got me fired up.”

And she made clear that Grassley’s staunch refusal to entertain a nominee to the Supreme Court vacancy opened by the unexpected death of Justice Antonin Scalia last month was the driving force behind her entry into the race.

Judge said on Friday that Grassley was “obstructing justice.”

“I really believe that in recent years and particularly right now he’s kind of forgotten he’s from Iowa,” Judge said. “He waited 36 years to become the chairman of the Judiciary Committee and now he’s refusing to do his job. That is not the Chuck Grassley that I knew 10 or 15 years ago and it’s not the thing Iowans want to see from their senator.”

In a statement, a spokesman for the Senate GOP campaign committee scoffed at Judge’s candidacy, noting that she lost her bid for reelection as lieutenant governor in 2010.

“Patty Judge is an out-of-touch liberal who was shown the door by voters last time she ran for office,” said Greg Blair, a spokesman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee. “Democrats might be celebrating the fact they were able to convince someone to pursue the fool’s errand of running against Chuck Grassley, but Judge will have no more luck than those who tried before her.”

“I think he needs to be accountable,” Judge said. “I think I can do a better job than him in Washington.”

President Barack Obama has not yet named a nominee. U.S. Appeals Court Judge Jane Kelly — a jurist with a long history in Iowa whom Grassley has highly praised — is said to be among those being vetted.

Also factoring into Judge’s decision: the increasing likelihood that Donald Trump will be the Republican president nominee this fall.

“Donald Trump at the head of the Republican ticket affords Democrats a great opportunity,” Judge said, “and I hope to be part of taking advantage of that.”

Before Judge takes on Grassley, though, she must get through a June 7 Democratic primary.

As of Friday, state Sen. Rob Hogg, of Cedar Rapids, and former state Sen. Tom Fiegen, of Clarence, have qualified for the ballot. Former lawmaker Bob Krause has also said he intends to run. Hogg was seen as the leading candidate before Judge jumped in the race, and has already locked up more than 60 endorsements from Iowa lawmakers.